The Value of Values

No one can deny that values and general behaviour in society are declining at an alarming rate.

You only have to open a newspaper today or click on any media site on the internet to be bombarded with the latest on riots, violence, suicides, kids hurting kids, kids hurting teachers, bullying, robbery, violent and appalling crimes, tales of raising divorce rates and broken families.

We like to think that it all comes from the “undesirable” elements of society. Sadly however, much of this decline has to lay at the feet of all of us don’t you think?

Can you honestly say that you:

Always show respect?

Never steal?

Have a good work ethic?

Take responsibility for your actions?

I like to think that I do pretty well but, if I’m honest, there a heck of a lot of room for improvement.

If I don’t watch myself I’ve been known to

neglect my responsibilities;

double-park for five minutes when I need to nip into the shop;

forget to say please or thank you;

say unkind or negative things about people or gossip;

grumble about doing daily chores;

not bother to take the washing out of the machine and re-wash it the next day;

leave the grass to grow until next weekend even though it looks untidy;

not point out to the shop assistant that he/she has given me too much change;

fail to give up my seat on the bus to an elderly person at the end of a long day.

But these are all such small things! I hear you cry. That’s as may be, but what’s important to remember, is that if all of us forget or don’t bother with these small things often enough it actually makes a big difference.

It’s easy to justify our behaviour with a shrug of the shoulders and an “it doesn’t matter just this once” or an “everyone else does it, so why shouldn’t I?” The point is it does matter and unless we accept it matters and make sure our children learn that it matters, society will continue to deteriorate.

Please. Make the effort. Whether your colleague, the man at the post office, the neighbours or your kids’ friends do or don’t do it is irrelevant. What matters is that YOU do it and that you take pride in doing it. Keep good behaviour and values alive and make sure you pass them on to your kids for the sake of all of our futures.